Is it worth buying a 2013 fiat 500 with 60,000 miles?

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Hi all,
I’m looking for a new car as my last one was written off in an accident- someone crashed into it when it was parked. I have a fairly low budget of £4,000 ish. My friend has offered to sell her fiat 500 that was designed in 2013 and has around 60,000 miles on it for £2000. I know it’s a good deal, however I’m worried about the age and mileage, and fiats don’t have the best reputation. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks

That's only 8500 miles per year, so actually I'd say the mileage was pretty low. However, much as I loved my 500 (which had an equally low mileage) after 8 years stuff did start to go wrong with it. That said, I sold mine for 5k at roughly the same age and mileage so actually, maybe you are getting a bargain...

Wondering why your friend is selling it....she knows its a pile of shite and a money pit.

FIAT - Fix It Again Tomorrow. 🤦‍♂️

£4k would easily get you a solid Auris or Civic, both of which would be bombproof and better value than that heap of junk your friend is trying to offload.

Could you look at Honda Jazz’s? Something like that maybe a Skoda. Fiat’s are so small.

Very happy fiat 500 owner here.

I really love mine. Cheap to run, tax, fill up, easy to get parts, a dream to park!

I also love the interior simple but stylish.

Always worrying buying a used car. But I've never had any dramas with mine and I'm not very good at looking after cars so it gets the bare minimum of attention of service and MOTs. Has always been easy to get parts for which with other cars I've struggled with. Mines older than the one you're looking at.

I got a Fiat 500 as a second car just for driving to work for me, we're going out this afternoon to look for a replacement.

I hate driving it, you feel every bump in the road, the driving position is awful with very limited seat and steering wheel adjustment, the radio is very temperamental, the door sills have started to rust ( it's a '16' plate so not that old )

Look for something else.

My 12 year old FIAT 500 is going strong and I've had very few problems. I've been really happy with it. I'm 5'8 and find it very comfy for my height, also the boot is bigger than on many of the very small cars. I've had a mini before that was also good.

Apparently they rattle and feel unsafe.

I wouldn't have one unless I was a girly girl and never had anyone else in the car. And didn't mind being judged as a bad driver and constantly tailgated.

@FartingInTheFence and I have had this discussion before I name changed. German (according to me) or jap (according to farting) is the only way to go. Although if you're doing brand new peugeot now have the crown for most reliable car. Must be a fluke.

Love the idea that I might be considered a girly girl or a bad driver, maybe both! Makes me more determined to get another one next time

Thanks everyone- apparently she's had no problems with it before but it does make me wary that a lot of people say they're unreliable. She's actually selling it to get another fiat 500 in a different colour. Im fairly small (5'5) so I'm fine with a small car. I have seen a SEAT Ibiza that's going for 4k, it's a 2015 and relatively low mileage, any thoughts on this model? I'm also looking at some older Volkswagen cars, there are some golfs going at fairly cheap prices

*Polos- sorry!

Usually 10K a year is considered average.

www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

Try this to check minor problems etc

I'm not too fussed about getting a top of the range, fancy car (I don't have the budget for it rn anyway). I'm looking for a fairly cheap, but reliable model. I will look at the cars suggested above; I know people who love their 500s and say they have an unfair reputation. I think it's just a combination of it being 8 years old, higher mileage than I'm wanting really and I want one I keep a bit longer than 2/3 years

i have loved all my fiats...but they have all been the "better" models, sporting/twinair

you do get a good deal of aggro from people who think anyone driving a 500 is a BeepBeepGirl and the top speed is 65 downhill

the ones I have had have all been great fun to drive

Aside from that I'd never buy a car from a friend...that way lies disaster imo !

£2k is a great price. DD bought a Fiat 500 as her first car, an 11 plate, a couple of years ago for £4k, and it is still going strong. It had already had most of the major stuff done, like drive chain etc. Check that has been changed already. IF anything goes wrong, needs replacing, DD just had to replace brakes/discs (which would need doing on any car), and something in the gearbox, mileage related, it was really cheap to do.

She doesn't use it much, as lives in London, but has done a couple of long journeys out to the West Country, and really enjoyed the drive.

FIAT cars are bloody death traps. I hot rid of my Panda because I was so scared to transporting my son in it ! Scary on a motorway

Personally I would be wary and perhaps instead consider something like a VW Polo or Mazda - both very reliable and safe.

I sold a 7 year old Toyota aygo with 30,000 miles in the clock for less than that. Seems a bit steep. I think you're get a better deal if you look at the reliable selling sites for a realistic price. Have you checked the 'book' price in Glass's guide?

Sorry I thought she was selling for £4K. £2K is a good deal.

I'd go for the Seat Ibiza OP. I haven't found Fiats to be very good at all. I think you might find it very uncomfortable if you drive it for longer than a few minutes, it's not very nice being on the motorway in a Fiat 500 and I'd be worried about having to fork out a lot for repairs for that car of that age and mileage, based on people I know who've bought slightly older ones.

Check out the full service history

I’d spend the the £4K on a Civic.

I’d buy it for sure. Have to ask though, what colour is it ?

My Fiat 500 is an 59 plate (Dec 09) and I purchased it in Nov 12. Had 26k miles when I bought it.

It's now got nearly 89k mileage on the clock and I have changed the brakes (x2), suspension, cambelt/water pump and radiator. Probably about normal for around 8 years use, three of which were probably doing 300 miles a week.

It is easy to source parts for the car but unfortunately I have probably had to repair something on the car every year I've owned it. Pretty sure the one year it sailed through its MOT two weeks later the brakes failed when I slammed them on as someone cut me off.

Personally, I would buy a Honda Jazz, Civic or Focus. Those things are reliable beasts.

It's light blue! Quite nice looking, I'm leaning towards the Ibiza though if I'm honest but it is a nice car. I've checked the history of the 500, seems good with no major worries

@HappyDinosaur are you not girly? If not, how come you have the girliest car ever created? They're very cute but Girly.

I'm not saying all 500 drivers are bad BUT they aren't quick and I remember the time that I handed over my grandad 3 series for a Megane in an attempt to save money on fuel and VED. The megane lasted a week before it went back but in the mean time I was cut up, pulled out on basically treated like shit on the road. Once it did go back, I swapped it for a vectra (the most amazing car ever) and suddenly everyone gave me space. Everyone seems to think you're going to get in their way if you have a small car.

If I had 4K I would get a 3 series. The seat Ibiza sounds good if that's what you're into. If you're not bothered then an aygo would be perfect. Cheap, cheerful, reliable. I think two year old ones with 20k are over 4K at around 4.5k to the trader. So go a year older or a little more miles and you've got a bargain.

Either way, never buy from friends.